Marbling an etching plate using BIG

[@nicholasjagger6557]

I needed at least a dozen attempts before I found the pattern I wanted, and it was necessary to clean off the unwanted marbling with a drop of turps sub and degrease using ordinary washing up water before warming and drying off the plate with a hair dryer. I also used tiny amounts of water tension breaker just to help form the contrast between the big solution and water. It's a really good technique which allows the gods of etching to help out. We could do with a few more videos from Andrew. Can he decipher the techniques used by Emil Nolde to create his tonal etchings?

[@PEACEKEEPER-mm3js]

Thank you sir. I can't find BIG. but i can used "Black Varnish" instead.

[@stormedoograka2599]

is there alternative for the vinegar? i can't stand to work with vinegar i have a kind of allergy to the smell .

[@jorgedelacruz688]

Great! What is BIG? I'm from mexico and I have never heard of that before, I love your videos

[@phyllisjeanfulton]

I feel so silly. I’m a Printmaker and don’t know what BIG stands for🤭

[@johnsonfoundations3624]

Have you noticed a difference between using malt vinegar vs. white vinegar?

[@ThisDesignedThat]

Hi Andrew, can you use any oil or does it specifically have to be lavender? The stuff is quite expensive.

[@bigetchingground]

You could use something like turps substitute or white spirit but I prefer to use something a little more safe. If you have a look on line you can buy lavender oil for as little as £8 for a 100ml. That should last you quite some time.

[@ThisDesignedThat]

@@bigetchingground Thanks for the reply, I mixed the BIG with some olive oil and sesame oil and it didnt really work too well. Very hard to get crisp marble patterns. Will try with some turps and have just ordered some lavender oil so will hopefully have more luck

[@bigetchingground]

The purpose of the lavender oil specifically is not only to thin the ground but also so that the ground will still cure after it has been n the oven. Remember it’s also important to add the vinegar to the water.

[@dilara5496]

You had mentioned that this best works with aluminum, can i still achieve this with copper or is it just going to create hassle? Thank you for this video by the way, going to try this technique next chance!

[@bigetchingground]

Yes you can. Just apply an acrylic spray aquatint after you have cured the marbling. Same for zinc.

[@dwalsh8628]

I’ve marbled with BIG on copper and the result was great even without the aquatint [I’ll bet doing an aquatint Would be even better.]

[@CreateEm]

Do you know if this will work with normal hard ground?

[@bigetchingground]

Create'Em in a word no.

[@CreateEm]

Andrew Baldwin ha, good to know, thanks!